New Jewish Agency chair ‘reconnects’ with MetroWest leaders in Whippany

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer

In his first official visit to the United States as the newly appointed chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Ze’ev Bielski met with leaders of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey on July 20 to discuss his visions for his organization and the special relationship the local community has with his country.

Bielski, the former mayor of Ra’anana, who began his new post June 28, and JAFI secretary general Josh Schwarcz spoke with about 20 MetroWest representatives at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany as part of their two-day visit.

In a meeting designed to “maintain open lines of communication,” according to Kenneth R. Heyman, president of UJC MetroWest, Bielski discussed his agency’s priorities. They include a renewed promotion of aliya; an increased presence for MASA, a program designed to bring thousands of young adults to Israel on short- and long-term visits; and efforts to emphasize the basic needs of underprivileged Israeli children.

Heyman described the meeting as a forum for Bielski to reconnect “with a community that he has strong ties with.”

The meeting came at Bielski’s request, Heyman said, adding that MetroWest was “definitely honored and privileged” with being the first federation to meet with the new JAFI chair. “We have a very unique and special relationship with him,” said Heyman.

Following his remarks, Bielski answered questions on a number of issues. “Everybody had an opportunity to talk about what they see as their collective or individual concerns with the Jewish Agency. I don’t think he left with anything on the table,” Heyman said.

But even friends can disagree. “Some members of this group go back over 20 years with him, so nobody was shy in that room,” the MetroWest leader said. “I think coming from this group almost anything could be said as long as it was said with respect. I don’t think he would be offended by anything.

“The people in Israel know that he has a special connection with this community.”

As Ra’anana mayor, Bielski helped forge a relationship that included MetroWest’s sponsorship of 12 different programs focusing on religious pluralism.

In an interview earlier this month with NJ Jewish News, Bielski discussed how the connection between the two communities helped shape his view of the Israel-Diaspora partnership.

“It made me understand pluralism and the other streams and directions,” he said at the time. “This made me more aware of the subject. If you are raised in Israel and you are Orthodox, you are not so interested in the Conservative and Reform. Because of this partnership, I am more aware today, and I think it’s important for me as chairman of the Jewish Agency to come with this knowledge.”

Ron Kaplan can be reached at RKaplan@njjewishnews.com.